In Tolzien’s first season as quarterbacks coach in 2023, after serving as an offensive assistant for three seasons (2020-22), Prescott finished second in MVP voting as he led the NFL in completions (410) and passing touchdowns (36), the only Cowboys quarterback to lead the NFL outright in passing scores, while finishing second in passer rating (105.9) and third in yards (4,516). Prescott also reduced his interception totals from 15 in 2022 to nine in 2023, and his interceptions percentage of 1.5% was fourth among all NFL passers. Perhaps most impressive was Prescott’s command of the offense, as he engineered three game-winning drives, a higher total than in any single-season since 2018, when he led five such drives, and now has 23 in his career. He finished with the most 100.0-rating games (11) and multi-passing touchdown games (11) league-wide.
Using his experience from a seven-year NFL playing career at quarterback, Tolzien was instrumental in preparing Prescott and Rush. After Prescott suffered a thumb injury in Week One, Tolzien helped assemble the offensive game plan for Rush, who went 4-1 in his five starts in 2022 and became the first quarterback in franchise history to win his first five career starts. When Prescott returned to action in Week Seven against Detroit (Oct. 23), Dallas’ offense led the league in offensive points-per-game (31.3) and third down offense (52.3%) and was third in yards-per-game (384.3) for the rest of the season.
The Cowboys offense grew to new heights in 2021, leading the NFL in scoring (31.2), including a franchise-record 530 points, and yards (407.0) while also reaching the end zone on 28.6% of drives, sixth in the league. Tolzien’s close work with Prescott saw the quarterback set a career-high and franchise-record 37 touchdowns passes and record a 100.0 passer rating in eight games, tied for second in single-season team history.
In his first season with Dallas in 2020, Tolzien assisted with an offensive unit that ranked in the top 10 of most primary statistical categories. Despite losing Prescott to injury, the Cowboys offense ranked seventh in the NFL in receiving yards (4,511), eighth in net passing yards (4,161) and tied for ninth in scrimmage yards (6,299).